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| Microscopic views of some of the thermophiles the National Institute of Biological Resources and Silla University discovered in geysers and manure in Korea. Courtesy of National Institute of Biological Resources |
By Ko Dong-hwan
Confirmation of the genome structure of 256 recently discovered micro-organisms from particularly high-temperature environments in Korea will boost the nation's biotech industry, according to the central government.
The discovery of the thermophiles ― organisms that thrive in an environment between 41 and 122 degrees Celsius ― will contribute to the decomposition of organic material wastes as well as the domestic bio-industry, the Ministry of Environment said Thursday.
The strains were separated from 61 specimens from geysers in the cities of Chungju, Busan and Uljin County and manure from farms on Jeju Island and in Boseong County. The discovery by the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR) and Silla University includes three novel world strains and nine new to the country.
"The new thermophiles have a vast potential as industrial resources and roles in solving environmental problems due to climate change," NIBR president Bae Yeon-jae said.
The thermophiles' superb protein degradation ability can be used for fermenting soybean meal for making fodder or decomposing the buried carcasses of animals slaughtered to control foot-and-mouth disease or avian influenza, according to the NIBR.
Analyzing natural materials that possibly have highly biologically active substances, like plant-based collagen, soybean meal and plant extracts for cosmetics, could also benefit from the thermophiles. Particular thermophiles that are stable under certain temperatures and acidity could also be used for making sweeteners to replace sugar.
The thermophile strains were found to grow fastest between 50 and 60 degrees Celsius, with Aeribacillus pallidus from the Mungang Sulfur Hot Springs in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, growing at 64 degrees or higher while showing high protein degradation ability.
The NIBR and Silla University have been jointly researching thermophiles ― which are regarded as highly valuable for industrial purposes ― since 2019. The study was meaningful in a country where there are few places with high temperatures.
Thermophiles and other extremophiles ― organisms that live under extreme conditions in terms of temperature, acidity, alkalinity, salinity, pressure, dryness and heavy metals ― can be found in oceans, salt fields, geysers, swamps and wastewater disposal plants in Korea.
The latest finding follows the NIBR's discovery last year of a fungus that advanced the country's research into plastics-decomposing biotechnology. With the help of a spotted lanternfly from Cheongyang, South Chungcheong Province, the novel fungus was scientifically named "mucor cheongyangensis" in May.
